Jet Stream question

[Cleeve Hill]

Does the positioning of high and low pressure systems determine the position of the jet stream or is it the other way around ? For example if you look at the pressure patterns over the last few weeks the jet stream buckles around the high pressure into Southern Europe. Thanks

[knocker]

The jet stream is a very complicated subject Cleeve and a tad above my pay grade. I'm assuming you are talking Arctic and Polar jets so this primer may be of some help.

 

A Rough Guide to the Jet Stream: what it is, how it works and how it is responding to enhanced Arctic warming

[chionomaniac]

Yes. One has to go into detail about the whole earths atmospheric circulation, the Hadley, polar and Ferrel cells and formation of Rossby waves to derive the correct answer.

Simply put, the atmospheric circulation determines where the jet stream is positioned and hence where surface low and high pressures reside.

[Paul]

Have you read Chiono's jet stream guide CH, well worth a look if not:

 

http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=jetstream-tutorial;sess=

[Cleeve Hill]

Thanks for the replies. It was a question I had for my Met Office open day on Saturday but thought it was a bit too technical for the day which was pretty dumbed down, but interesting nonetheless. Cheers.